asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the number of British subjects lying in prison in the United States of America, and who have been sentenced during the last four years for so-called political offences; whether any representations have been made to the United States Government for their release; and, if so, what reply has been received?

I am unable to say how many British subjects are imprisoned in the United States for offences of a political character. Certain British subjects, among others, were sentenced to terms of imprisonment in 1919 for such offences, and an appeal to the United States Circuit Court of Appeals resulted in the decision of the trial Court being upheld. No representations on the subject have been made to the United States Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made in the negotiations with Egypt as to compensation for British officials who retire from the Egyptian Government service; and whether he can assure such officials that His Majesty's Government will not lose sight of its obligation to secure them suitable compensation?

Lord Allenby was recently requested to furnish his recommendations on this subject, which are still awaited. The reply to the latter part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any inquiries have been made by the Foreign Office into the state of health of Zaghloul Pasha and his colleagues at the Seychelles; whether the wisdom of their repatriation has been considered; whether he is aware that a medical report has been submitted to His Majesty King Fuad on the health of Zaghloul Pasha and the unsuitability of the Seychelles climate, and that great popular anxiety is manifested in Egypt at the exposure of this venerable man in exile; and if the Foreign Office will advise Zaghloul's return from exile?

The Governor of the Seychelles has been asked to report periodically on the health of the deportees. As regards the second and fourth part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement of the Leader of the House on the 14th March. As regards the third part of the question, I understand that a number of petitions for submission to King Fuad are being organised by the opponents of the present Government.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the total expenditure on Russian refugees to date; what is the total amount now being spent per week; and the amount per week per adult or child?

The total expenditure on Russian refugees under British control up to the present time amounts to approximately£1,130,736. The total sum now being expended weekly is approximately£2,500. The cost per week of each adult and child is as follows: Egypt £ s. d. Sidi Bishr Camp Adult 0 15 11 Child 0 10 8½ Ismailia Adult 1 1 7 Child 0 14 3½ Cyprus Adult 0 19 3 Child 0 12 0 Serbia Child or Adult 0 6 0 Touzla Child or Adult 0 16 0 Malta Adult 0 17 6

asked the Prime Minister under what head and on what dates we have spent something like£5,500,000 on the supply of foodstuffs to North Russia?

Expenditure has been incurred for the supply of foodstuffs to North Russia as follows:— £ s. d. 1918–19 (Vote of Credit, Item 33) 2,713,174 11 0 1919–20 (Miscellaneous War Services, Item C) 1,462,219 15 8 1920–21 (Miscellaneous War Services, Item C) 570,823 16 5 £4,746,223 3 1

The supplies may be classified approximately as follows:— £ s. d. Food supplies, mainly wheat 2,190,000 0 0 Fish 955,000 0 0 Medical stores 56,000 0 0 Clothing (including household and small agricultural implements) 1,130,000 0 0 Warehousing, freight and office expenses in connection with the stores 415,000 0 0

The following sums have been recovered in respect of these stores and have been paid into the Exchequer:— £ s. d. February, 1920 … … 805,067 4 7 March, 1921 … … 404,994 4 3 May, 1921 … … 140,000 0 0 January, 1922 … … 280,000 0 0 £1,630,061 8 10

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can now state what steps, if any, the Japanese Government have taken to withdraw their troops from Siberia in fulfilment of the pledge given at the Washington Conference?

So far as His Majesty's Government are aware, the Japanese Government have not yet taken any steps to withdraw their troops from Siberia.

asked the Prime Minister whether it will be possible to bring forward the Bill which has been drafted for the purpose of amending the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act, 1914, so as to provide for the acquisition of British nationality by children born of British subjects abroad as soon as the assent of Canada and Newfoundland is obtained; whether the absence of the assent of Canada and Newfoundland is the only obstruction to the introduction of this Bill; whether, having regard to the great injustice to British subjects that exists under present conditions and the long period that this matter has been before both the British and the Colonial Governments, he will state what reasons are given for the delay in giving their assent; and will he press this important matter to a conclusion without further delay?

The concurrence of all the self-governing Dominions in these proposed amendments of the Act has now been obtained. Steps will be taken immediately with a view to the introduction of the necessary legislation.

asked the Prime Minister when the next meeting of the Council of the League of Nations will take place; and whether the agenda of the meeting will include the consideration of the draft A and B mandates, together with the American Government's recent note thereon, and the steps to be taken to prepare for the eventual duties of the League in connection with the protection of minorities in Asia Minor and Thrace?

The next Session of the Council of the League of Nations has been fixed to commence on the 11th instant. The agenda, as at present arranged, does not include the items referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is prepared to ask the representatives of the Engineering Employers' Federation to submit their proposals and the replies of the trade unions to a ballot vote of the shareholders of the various firms involved?

The reply is in the negative.

asked the Prime Minister whether, seeing that the amount of indemnity received from Germany does not meet the expenses of the British Army of Occupation, he is prepared, in the interests of economy, to withdraw the British troops?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the skipper-owner of the motor boat "Janet Ovenstone" (M.L. 264) with his crew were fishing 12 miles east-north-east from the River Tyne on the 26th July, 1916, when the boat was rammed, bombed, and sunk by the German submarine U.B. 32, the crew were taken abroad the submarine for 9½ hours, then transferred to the Norwegian steamer "Polly," registered port Bergen, and landed at Grimsby, and that, although forms have been filled up and sent in claiming reparation on account of the above, nothing has yet been received; and if there is any prospect of this matter being attended to?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, the claims referred to are being dealt with, together with numerous other similar claims, in the manner explained by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in Committee of Supply on the 23rd February.

asked the Secretary of Slate for War the total cost to date of the British troops in Upper Silesia; who is paying this cost; and whether any moneys towards this cost has been received from the German or Polish Governments?

The approximate cost of the British Upper Silesian force to 31st March last is£920,000, excluding accommodation and miscellaneous services, which are provided free. This expenditure, which is recoverable from Germany and Poland under the Treaty of Versailles, has been mot in the first instance from the British Army Funds, with the exception that 51 million marks have been supplied by the Inter-Allied High Commission to meet local expenses of the force. The question of repayment of the balance by Germany and Poland is at present under consideration by the Conference of Ambassadors.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade whether he can give, for the years 1913, 1920, and 1921, the number and value of the imports and exports to and from Great Britain of shuttles, shuttle pegs, and shuttle tips, particularising in each case the countries which exported these articles and to which they were imported?

Shuttles, shuttle pegs, and shuttle tips are not separately distinguished in the trade statistics, and importers and exporters of these articles are not required to declare them separately from other textile machinery and parts thereof. I am, consequently, unable to give the desired information.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any information that the dumping of goods in this country is on the increase?

I have no information that would enable me to give a definite answer, but so far as the number of complaints received under Part II of the. Safeguarding of Industries Act can be taken as an indication of the position, there would seem to be no ground for supposing that the dumping of goods in this country shows any general or substantial tendency to increase.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the values of the imports of eggs, poultry, bacon, butter and cheese, respectively, during the year 1921–22?

The following statement shows the value of the under-mentioned articles imported into the United Kingdom during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1922: Commodities. Value in £ Eggs (including eggs not in the shell) … … 13,972,077 Poultry … … 805,089 Bacon and Hams … … 49,606,781 Butter … … 36,357,727 Cheese … … 16,933,768

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of persons who were registered to sell sugar retail under the food control scheme in the United Kingdom and the figures for each country?

The number of persons registered to sell sugar by retail in April, 1918, was, in England, 123,203; in Wales, 10,191; in Scotland, 14,775. The total figures for Great Britain were thus 148,169. I regret that no figures for Ireland are available in this Department.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it has been decided to reduce the charges on telephones; what is the extent of such contemplated reductions, if any; and from what date will such reductions be made?

I will deal with this question when introducing the Post Office Estimates on Thursday next.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that British firms are being invited to circularise their customers in England from Germany on the ground that for£l 1,600 letters can be despatched at the printed matter rate; and whether he proposes to take any step to prevent the abuse of the postal facilities in this country?

I am aware of the terms of the circulars which are being received from Germany by potential advertisers in this country, but I observe that stress is laid upon the advantage to be gained in cost of printing and paper from the rate of exchange and the lower wages paid in Germany rather than any difference in the postage rates. In any case, so long as the rates of foreign postage charged by Germany are not lower than the rates authorised by the Convention of the International Postal Union there are no grounds upon which the British Post Office can object to them.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the hardships caused from time to time to traders by reason of the condition imposed upon them, when sending telegrams, by the Imperial Cable and Telegraph Service and companies relieving the latter from loss or damage for error or non-transmission; and whether he will inquire into the advisability of modifying such condition?

The condition referred to by the lion, and gallant Member is laid down in the Convention which regulates the International Telegraph Service, and I think there is no probability that a majority of the countries adhering to the Convention would agree to any modification in this respect, even if the British Post Office itself were willing to do so. In the case of important telegrams, the risk of error can be reduced to a minimum by adopting the arrangements for repetition on payment of an additional quarter rate, which are provided for by the Convention.

asked the Postmaster-General the decisions arrived at concerning the broadcasting of musical, instructive, and entertaining matter by wireless telephony; and the new conditions applicable to the use of wireless telegraphy by amateurs?

The details of the arrangement have not yet been decided in all cases; but I propose to make a full statement on this matter when I introduce the Post Office Estimates on Thursday next.

asked the Postmaster-General if any official figures are available which show the effect of night-work and irregular hours of attendance on the health of the staff of sorters in the Post Office; and whether, if no published figures are available, he will supply a brief summary giving this information?

No official figures are available which can be said to show the effect of night work and irregular hours of attendance on the health of the staff of sorters in the Post Office. Variations in the sick absence rates of course occur, but they are attributable, in the opinion of the Post Office medical advisers, to a variety of causes. In practice the average sick rate of sorters is not found to be substantially greater than that of other classes with more regular hours of attendance. In the Central London district, where over 4,000 sorters are employed, the average number of days of sick absence per sorter for 1921 was 12.4 days; in the Accountant-General's Department and the Savings Bank Department, where large bodies of male clerical staff are employed, the corresponding average sick rates were 9.1 and 9.5 respectively: and the rate for male counter clerks and telegraphists employed in the Central London district, who have no night duty, was 11. Men disabled in the War are excluded from all these figures.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the surplus or deficit of postal services, telegraphs, and telephones, respectively, for the year ending 31st March, 1922?

I propose to make a full statement on Post Office finance when I introduce the Post Office Estimates on Thursday next.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. E. E. Webb, a permanent servant in the Ordnance Survey at Southampton; whether he is aware that, although this man had 38 years' service to his credit, he was recently given notice of his discharge; that the mental worry thus caused resulted in the man committing suicide; and whether he will make inquiry into this case and explain why it was found necessary to discharge a man with so many years' service?

I am fully aware of this sad case, the particulars of which are as follows: The Committee on National Expenditure recommended a considerable reduction in the staff of the Ordnance Survey, but I was able by economies in other directions to secure the saving required without discharges on the scale proposed by the Committee. It was necessary, however, to make a small reduction in staff, and those officers who were the least efficient were selected for retirement on pension. Mr. Webb was one of these, and his lack of efficiency may have been due to ill-health, from which he had been suffering for some time. I greatly regret the occurrence.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what are the classes of women clerks where transfer in accordance with the Reorganisation Report depends on the existence of vacancies in the new complements; whether, although the number of second division men clerks to be transferred according to the Report is greatly in excess of the number of executive vacancies in. the new complements, these officers are being paid at the executive rate and have a claim to all future vacancies until they are absorbed; whether His Majesty's Government will carry out the intention of the official side of the National Whitley Council in laying down in paragraph 67 that those women clerks not transferred to the executive grade shall be transferred to the lower clerical: and, if so, when is the transfer of women clerks to the executive grade, as distinct from promotion to a higher grade, to take place?

Transfer of all officers, and not only of certain grades of women clerks, to a grade higher than that to which they have been assimilated depends on the existence of vacancies. As regards the second part of the question, second division clerks have, subject to fitness, been assimilated to the junior executive scale pending their absorption in junior executive or higher clerical posts. The answer to the third part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the fourth, that the transfer of staff to posts in the reorganised complements, including the transfer of any women clerks to be allotted to executive posts, is now being undertaken in the case of each Department at the earliest opportunity.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any decision has been arrived at by the authorities at Somerset House with regard to the removal of the old testamentary records from that registry to the Public Record Office; if so, when it is intended to transfer the same; and, after such transference has taken place, what authority will grant literary permits for the district probate registries?

This question has been engaging the attention of a Committee recently appointed by the Lord Chancellor and the President of the Probate Division, whose Report is now under consideration. No decision has, however, yet been reached on the first point raised in the hon. and gallant Member's question; and it would therefore be premature to deal with his two further points. I may add that the suggested transfer of records would, in any case, require legislative sanction.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the large number of protest resolutions from the whole of the friendly society organisations against the Geddes Committee suggestion to impose a 10s. tax in connection with returns to the registry office; and whether, in view of the unfair basis of the suggestion, he can give an assurance that the Government has no intention of putting the same into effect?

A number of protests have been received. As regards the second part of the question, I am not yet in a position to add anything to previous replies on this subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can announce his decision now in regard to the suggested imposition of a fee of 10s. for annual returns made by friendly societies to the chief registrar; and, particularly, what consideration is to be given to those societies having numerous branch lodges, in order to deal equitably with them?

The answer is in the negative. A deputation representative of the interests concerned will shortly be received, and full consideration will be given to the representations submitted before a final decision is taken.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what is the total amount of the War debt owed by the French Government to Great Britain: whether interest is due on this debt; and, if so, from what date?

The War debt due by the French Government to His Majesty's Government, including interest was at 31st March, 1922,£584,000,000. His Majesty's Government has reserved the right to claim future interest payments in cash as from 1st October next.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what rate of duty is at present levied on imported foreign sugar, imported sugar of Imperial origin, and home manufactured sugar, respectively?

The governing rates of duty on sugar are as follow:— Per cwt. £ s. d. On imported foreign sugar … 1 5 8 On Empire sugar … 1 1 ⅔ On home-grown sugar … 0 19 5⅓

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what was the total amount of the Excise Duty levied on sugar during the last financial year; and what will be the loss of revenue involved if the remission of this duty in accordance with Government pledges is accorded?

The revenue derived from the Excise Duty on sugar in the financial year 1921–22 was£122.000. The anticipated loss of revenue involved in the proposed repeal of the Excise Duty on home-grown sugar is insignificant, since the Government are satisfied that unless the duty is removed the two factories now at work will be forced to stop.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in his coming Budget he will consider exempting from the incidence of the Entertainment Duty agricultural shows which may employ a band, particularly in view of the fact that it is merely an adjunct to the promotion of interest in agricultural matters?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the objections to this proposal which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated in debate on 18th July, 1921, on the Report stage of the Finance Rill of last year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, analysing the returns of the Entertainments Duty for the last three years, he will state the sum obtained from the entertainment industry, including theatres, music halls, cinemas, etc., and the sum realised from sport, including football, cricket, racing, boxing, tennis, etc.?

Owing to the fact that a considerable part of the Entertainments Duty is collected by means of the sale of Government tickets and stamps it is not possible to state the yield of the duty in respect of particular classes of entertainments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts for Income Tax and Super-tax, respectively, have been received from Ireland for the periods ending, respectively, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, and 1922?

I beg to refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Revenue and Expenditure (England, Scotland, and Ireland) Returns for the first four years mentioned (H.C. 106/1918, 163/1919, 245/1920, 207/1921). The Return for 1921–22 is not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the 86 millions of Income Tax and 16 millions of Super-tax uncollected on 31st March, 1921, had not been collected by 31st March, 1922?

Precise figures cannot be given, but the information available indicates that a comparatively small amount of these arrears, probably not exceeding£5,000,000, remained uncollected at 31st March, 1922.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (1) what was the total amount of Income Tax due and unpaid by taxpayers on 5th April, 1922, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively;

(2) the toal amount of Income Tax due and unpaid on 5th April, 1922, and the amounts which were due and unpaid on 5th April, 1919, 1920, and 1921?

The approximate amounts of Income Tax estimated to be due to be paid (excluding the instalment due on the 1st July following) but not paid by 31st March were as follow: United Kingdom. £ 31st March, 1919 … 55,000,000 31st March, 1920 … 73,000,000 31st March, 1921 … 86,000,000 31st March, 1922 … 110,000,000

I regret that I am unable, at such short notice, to divide the arrear at 31st March, 1922, between England, Scotland, and Ireland. I will communicate an estimate later.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the proportion of the total taxation of the United Kingdom for the last financial year that was paid by the County of Lancaster?

I regret that figures of the taxation paid by individual counties in the United Kingdom are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total yield of the Excise Duty on beer for the year ending 31st March, 1922, and also the number of standard barrels brewed in England, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively?

The approximate total yield of the Excise Duty on beer for the year ended 31st March, 1922, was£121,865,000. The number of standard barrels of beer brewed in the same period was as follows:— Standard Barrels. England and Wales … 19,533,006 Scotland … 1,339,542 Ireland … 2,641,226

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether ex-sergeants and constables of the Royal Irish Constabulary are allowed to commute their pensions; and, if so, on what terms?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to Paragraph 5 of Document No. II in the Terms of Disbandment which has been circulated as a White Paper (C.M.D. 1618A).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the case of ex-Sergeant Hugh R. Shortt, late of the Special Constabulary in Ulster, who was wounded in the discharge of his duty so far back as the 23rd December, 1920, and was finally discharged from that constabulary on the 31st October, 1921, as being unfit for further duty; whether, notwithstanding repeated representations which have been made to the Imperial authorities, no pension has yet been paid to ex-Sergeant Shortt; and, as this is clearly a liability for the Imperial Government, whether he will see that no further delay occurs in paying the pension to which this ex-sergeant is entitled as a matter of right?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given him on 12th April in reply to a similar question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can make any statement as to events in Ireland?

I have nothing to add to the information which has appeared in the Press during the weekend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any men lately disbanded from the Royal Irish Constabulary are now under arrest and are being tried by Irish Republican Army courts martial for carrying out the orders of the British Government; and whether any action is being taken by the Government to find employment for the disbanded members of the Royal Irish Constabulary?

Four members of the Royal Irish Constabulary who were disbanded during the past month are reported to have been kidnapped, and I am at present in communication with the Provisional Government with a view to ascertaining their present whereabouts and procuring their release. I have no information as to any of these men having been tried by Republican Courts. With regard to the latter part of the question, a bureau has been set up at Chester for finding suitable accommodation in Great Britain for disbanded men and their families, and men who desire to avail themselves of these facilities are given advice as to the places where they are likely to find the best opportunity for the work most suitable to their special aptitudes and inclinations. The terms of disbandment contain special provisions for enabling men who so desire to emigrate to other parts of the British Empire, and an emigration branch has been formed at the Irish Office for advising and assisting men who decide to take advantage of these provisions. About 300 disbanded members of the force have enlisted in the Palestine Gendarmerie and all men are being invited to offer themselves as candidates for the new Ulster Police Force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to, and can he give any information relating to, the recent seizure of two ex-members of the Royal Irish Constabulary who had embarked upon the Liverpool steamer and were about to proceed to England, but who were forcibly removed on shore and shot on the quays; and whether he has taken any steps to prevent such acts being repeated?

So far as I have been able to ascertain, there is no truth in this story. I have already made very full inquiries, but if the hon. and learned Member has any definite evidence in his possession which leads him to believe that such an occurrence has in fact taken place, I shall be glad if he will make it available as the basis of a further investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any information as to the reported murder of Messrs. Fitzmaurice, Gray and Buttimer, at Dunmanway, South-West Cork, on Wednesday night, 26th April?

I have no information in regard to these atrocious murders except what has appeared in the Press.

asked the Minister of Health what amount is allotted for the current year by the Treasury in order to clear insanitary areas, and upon what areas is it proposed to expend these amounts during the current year?

A sum of£130,000 has been provided in the Estimates for 1922–23 to meet losses which may be incurred by local authorities in carrying out approved schemes for dealing with unhealthy areas. Such schemes have been put forward, or are under consideration, by a number of the larger local authorities, including the London County Council and the Town Councils of Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Bristol, Leeds, Nottingham and Exeter.

asked the Minister of Health how many houses have been completed during the year ending 31st March last under schemes sanctioned by the Ministry: and how many houses additionally under such schemes it is hoped will be completed during the six months ending 30th September next?

The number of houses completed under State-aided schemes during the year ending 31st March last was 100,923. There remain 75,484 houses to be finished toy local authorities and public utility societies, a large number of which it is hoped will be completed during the next six months, in addition to which preliminary certificates have been issued for the erection of 12,295 houses by private builders which, to qualify for subsidy, must be completed by the end of June.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give favourable consideration to the suggestion that the Government should extend until 1924 the period during which the subsidy for new houses will be given to local authorities and placing England and Wales on exactly the same terms in this connection as Scotland?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for the Ashford Division (Major Steel) on this subject on the 22nd March, a copy of which I am sending to him.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that, as the result of certain legal proceedings, the members of the Central Branch of the National Catholic Benefit and Thrift Society are receiving no sickness benefit payments; and whether he can take any action which will relieve their position pending a settlement of the affairs of the society?

I am not aware that the members of the branch in question are not receiving the benefits to which they are entitled, but I am in communication with the Central Committee of the society with a view to securing that no avoidable delay occurs in the payments of benefits.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Barrow-in-Furness Corporation have submitted to the Ministry for their approval a scheme for the exercise by the council of their powers under Section 2 of the Blind Persons Act, 1920, which the Ministry have approved of generally, but are withholding their formal approval thereto, and insisting on the council delegating certain of their powers and duties under the Act to a local voluntary organisation; that the attitude of the Ministry, which is inconsistent with the provisions of the Blind Persons Act, is holding up the scheme and preventing the blind persons in the borough from obtaining the benefits of the Act; and will he reconsider the matter with a view to the approval of the scheme?

The facts are generally as stated in the first part of the question. But I cannot admit that the action taken by my Department is either inconsistent with the provisions of the Act or detrimental to the interests of the blind persons in the borough. The council proposed to erect and to maintain a workshop at an estimated cost of£1,750 per annum, but I have suggested to them that their object could be more economically and efficiently secured by assisting the local voluntary agency in making the necessary provision.

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the discovery by Mr. Thomas H. Fairbrother, M.Sc., and Dr. Arnold Renshaw, of Manchester, of several dyes which in the activated sludge process of sewage purification can kill the devouring protozoa without harming the purifying bacteria; and whether he will give facilities for carrying out on a large scale the results of this highly important piece of laboratory research work?

My attention has been drawn to the experiments referred to. I am, however, advised that further research work will be needed in order to test the application of this and other discoveries to the activated sludge process of sewage purification, and I am making inquiries as to the best means of facilitating the necessary investigations.

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that C. T. Stevenson, of Stoke Newington, has been disallowed his treatment allowance, which was at the rate of 56s. 11d. per week on the alternative scale, for the week commencing Wednesday, 12th April, 1922, on the ground that he did not avail himself of the treatment offered him at the Hackney and Stoke Newington Orthopædic Clinic during the preceding week; that Stevenson was unable to avail himself of such treatment owing to an attack of influenza whereby he became too ill to leave his house: that such attack of influenza is vouched for by a doctor of repute who attended him; that the Stoke Newington Committee were and are willing to pay to Stevenson his treatment allowance for the said week, but have been deterred from so doing by a threat of surcharge made by one of the Ministry's officials; and that, in fact, the clinic was closed during Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of the said week; and whether he will direct that Stevenson ought to be paid the treatment allowance for the week in question?

During the week in question the man not did receive treatment for his war disability, and I regret, therefore, that payment of treatment allowances cannot be authorised. He is, however, entitled to pension at the maximum rate of 40s., which, I understand, was offered to him for that week by the local committee, but refused.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether battleships attached to the Mediterranean Fleet are refitted and repaired at Malta; and whether it would be possible, in view of the large amount of unemployment existing in the home dockyards, to have such ships refitted and repaired at those dockyards?

The periodical refits and repairs of battleships attached to the Mediterranean Fleet are carried out at Malta. This policy is both economical and strategically sound, but I might add that in any case the Admiralty could not leave out of account the interests of its dockyard employés in Malta, where unemployment is no less serious than here.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if the decision to close Pembroke Dockyard has been cancelled or suspended; and, if so, by whom, and at what date?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the Memorandum explanatory of the Navy Estimates for 1922–23, which was submitted to Parliament by the First Lord of the Admiralty on 10th March last, and which (on page 11) gives a full explanation of the considerations which led the Government to come to its present decision.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the unanimous recommendation of the Cambridge Committee of the Universities Commission in favour of the admission of women to full membership of Cambridge University, he is prepared to take the necessary steps to introduce legislation on this subject; and, if not, whether he is prepared to recommend that a largely increased grant to the university should be made conditional upon the admission of women to membership?

The Report of the Royal Commission on the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge is now under the Government's consideration, and I am not yet in a position to make any statement on the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education if a protest has been received by his Department from the Local Education Committee of Abertillery against the proposal of the Board of Education to cut down the grants for the provision of meals; if he is aware that the rates amount to upwards of 30s. in the£ in this area as a result of the entire closing down of collieries in Blaina and the partial closing down of collieries in the Abertillery areas, and that this burden will be greatly aggravated if the grant in aid of the provision of meals is reduced; and whether, under these circumstances, he will give the Local Education Committee information as to the amount of the expenditure they may incur in 1922–23, and which the Board will recognise for the calculation of the grant?

The Board have received the protest in question. I may refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 4th April to the hon. Member for Newcastle, North. I cannot admit the principle that in heavily rated areas it is legitimate to use the Provision of Meals Acts to relieve the poor rate. The Board hope to issue, in the course of a few days, a Circular to all local education authorities on the subject of the provision of meals, setting out in detail the facts for the country as a whole. Authorities will be invited to take all these facts into consideration, and subsequently to submit revised estimates to the Board for this Special Service for 1922–23. When the Board have received these revised estimates for the country as a whole they will inform each Authority whether the amount of their estimate is such as can be accepted for purposes of grant in view of the limit imposed by Parliament.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has agreed that the use of the new form of education account (annual statement) shall be postponed, so far as the year 1921–22 is concerned, and that local education authorities need not use it until they come to make a return of their receipts and expenditure for 1922–23?

I hoped that the previous answers given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and myself had made the position clear, but as there appears to be some misapprehension, I will restate it. It is expected that all local education authorities will make use of the new form and return their receipts and expenditure for 1921–22 in that form, giving the totals under all the main headings, and so much as they can of the details asked for under those headings. I am satisfied that certain important details which are not provided for in the existing form can be readily extracted from the existing accounts, and that labour and trouble can be saved by giving in the new form information which has hitherto been given on supplementary forms. But it has been decided to waive in respect of the year 1921–22 so much of the details asked for in the new form as cannot be given without a laborious dissection of the accounts, and to accept for that year the totals of the several headings itemised to such an extent as the present account books allow. It has also been decided to dispense with the column headed "Amount of rate in the£ of amount levied" which appears on pages 6 and 14 of the form. I regret that any dissatisfaction should have arisen on this matter, and that local education authorities should have any reason for complaining that they were not consulted. But it is so important, especially in present circumstances, that the Board should be able, not only for their own purposes but also for the information of Parliament and the local education authorities themselves, to keep track of the components of local educational expenditure as between one year and another and summarise them in a form conducive to intelligent administration, that in the public interest I feel sure that I am justified in appealing to local education authorities to do their best to make their returns in the new form for 1921–22

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, under Circular 1,246 issued by the Board, dated 27th January, 1922, relative to grants to voluntary special schools, though there may be more cases of blind children to be dealt with in 1922–23 than in the previous year, local authorities will not be allowed to deal with such additional cases if the expenditure incurred thereby is greater than the amount spent for the previous year?

As I mentioned in my speech on the Board of Education Estimates, I realise the special claim of blind and deaf children, and I am now considering how best to meet their needs. I hope shortly to be in a position to define the position further.

further asked the President of the Board of Education if he will issue, monthly or quarterly, a statement indicating any progress made by this and other countries in relation to education in general, giving figures showing the status of this country as compared with the position from time to time prevailing in other countries?

I am afraid that the usefulness of such a periodical paper as the hon. Member suggests, would not be commensurate with the labour and cost of its preparation and publication.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that no deductions from salaries of supplementary teachers have been made in St. Helens under the Unemployment Insurance Act for the last two months, and that previous to this deductions were made for such purpose, though supplementary teachers had claimed exemption: and if he can give the reason for the change?

I have been asked to reply. A certificate of exemption from Unemployment Insurance was granted to the St. Helens Borough Council in January of this year in respect of certain classes of permanent employés of three years' service or over, including the teaching staff of the Education Department. This certificate would apparently cover the supplementary teachers in question.

asked the Minister of Labour whether a circular of instruction has been issued directing that insurance stamps placed on cards during periods of unemployed relief work are not to be calculated in the total number necessary to qualification for the six weeks extended benefit; and whether he will have placed upon the Table of the House copies of instructions issued to local employment committees?

No instructions to the effect indicated by my hon. Friend have been issued by my Department. If my hon. Friend will furnish me with further particulars, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport if he is aware that the carriage of all parcels traffic forwarded by passenger train from stations in Great Britain must be prepaid, while parcels from overseas are accepted carriage forward; and whether any steps can be taken to re-establish the former arrangement under which the carriage of parcels could be paid either by the consignor or consignee?

The railway companies state that to re-establish the former arrangement, whereby the charges on parcels could be paid either by the consignor or the consignee, would require considerable additional staff, with a consequent increase in the cost of transit. In compliance with Sections 42 to 45 of the Railways Act, 1921, the companies have submitted to the Rates Tribunal proposed conditions of carriage, and one of the conditions stipulates for prepayment of charges for traffic by passenger train. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a public notice issued by the tribunal as to the procedure to be taken by traders who may desire to object to the companies' proposals.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport if he is aware that the passenger train service of the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway between Hove, Brighton, Hastings, and Eastbourne and London terminus, outward and inward, has of late been subjected to frequent and prolonged delays; can he state the reason and give a return of trains late since 1st March last; and what steps are being taken to prevent delays in future?

My information is that the trains upon the services in question have been running very punctually, except for slight delays about 8th March clue to damage to telegraph wires caused by a gale on that date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the tax on a Ford, car is identical with a car which costs£1,500; and whether, in view of the low selling prices of the former, he will consider the advisability of reducing the tax, having in view the fact that it is a poor man's car?

I have been asked to answer this question. The tax on a motor car does not depend on its value but on its engine power as calculated under the Treasury (R.A.C.) rating. As I stated recently in the House, the whole basis of taxation of motor vehicles is to be considered afresh by the Departmental Committee, and it is obvious that a point such as this cannot with advantage be dealt with separately.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport if his attention has been called to the complaints of the chairmen of numerous industrial companies of the handicap imposed on British trade by the railway charges on goods traffic and that to-day the cost of transporting one ton of bar iron from Low Moor to Liverpool is£2 5s. 4d. against 15s. 10d. in July, 1914, and to Manchester£l 18s. 7d. against 10s. 6d.; whether these present rates were the rates charged during the Government control of the railways; and, since no real and lasting revival of trade is possible whilst such railway charges continue, will he consider what steps may be taken, whether by legislation or otherwise, to reduce them?

There have been no general increases in railway rates comparable with those quoted by the hon. Member. I am obtaining particulars of the present and pre-War rates for bar-iron between the places mentioned and will communicate them to him later. The Minister has now no jurisdiction over railway rates. Under Part III of the Railways Act of last Session machinery for dealing with them has been set up, which, in my opinion, adequately safeguards the interests of the traders and the public generally. The Rates Tribunal is ready and willing to deal promptly with any application made to them by the traders.

asked the Home Secretary, in view of the moral and physical damage caused by the illegal sale of cocaine and similar drugs, if he can see his way, with a view to stopping this sale, to order that 12 strokes of the cat, in addition to imprisonment for six months or more with hard labour, be given to all vendors who are caught illegally selling those drugs?

I have no power to make any such Order as is suggested. The penalties are fixed by Section 13 of the Dangerous Drugs Act and cannot be altered without legislation. The maximum penalty allowed by the Act (for a first offence six months' imprisonment with hard labour, or a fine of£200, or both) ought in my opinion to be a sufficient deterrent, and I could not undertake to introduce amending legislation of the nature suggested.

asked the Home Secretary whether, as stated in an interview reported to have been given by him on 24th April, 1922, he intends to extend State control?

No, Sir; the hon. and gallant Member does not summarise correctly what I said at the interview.

asked the Home Secretary how many men and women, respectively, have been sentenced to death since 1st January, 1921; and in how many of these cases reprieves have been granted?

The figures for England and Wales are as follow: —— Sentenced to death. Reprieved. Men. Women. Men. Women. 1921 … 10 3 5* 3 1922 … 10 0 3 0 Total … 20 3 8 3 *Includes I certified insane and removed to Broadmoor.

If information is desired in regard to Scotland, inquiry should be made of the Scottish Office.

asked the Attorney-General the number of nullity suits granted in the year 1921 and the number of divorces granted in the same period?

The numbers of decrees nisi made absolute in 1921 were as follow: —— Total. Husbands' Petitions. Wives' Petitions. Dissolution marriage. 3,458 2,454 1,004 Nullity of marriage. 64 33 31

asked the Minister of Mines what steps are taken by the Government to test the efficiency of the large number of safety appliances already patented; when tests have been taken and their values proved, what steps are taken to force mineowners to adopt them; whether any tests are being made with shot-firing appliances; if so, which is considered the best for preventing accidents from this cause; and what steps does he propose to take to enforce its use?

It is impossible for the Government to test the numerous patent safety appliances, as the only real test of the efficiency of such appliances lies in experience of their behaviour over an extended period under actual working conditions. Such tests can only be effectively carried out at mines under the constant observation of the management, and it is not found that there is any failure on the part of mine owners and managers to try out inventions and adopt them if they appear to meet a real need in a practical way. The question of making compulsory the adoption of safety appliances arises only when there is convincing evidence of the need for and the efficacy of such appliances. The hon. Member will be aware of the recent appointment of a Sub-Committee on Technical Appliances to advise the Department on such matters. As regards shot-firing appliances, I can add nothing at present to the replies which I gave to the hon. Member for Rhondda West (Mr. John) on 27th February and 7th March last.

asked the hon. Member for the Pollok Division of Glasgow, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether it is with his knowledge that instructions have been given for the discharge of workmen of 70 years of age and over in the Royal parks irrespective of their ability to perform a normal day's work; and whether, in view of the fact that the Regulation relative to discharge at a certain age has been in abeyance for many years and the hardship that will be inflicted on these men owing to the conditions prevailing regarding employment which make it extremely unlikely that these workmen will be able to obtain other employment, he will withdraw the instruction for the time being?

The First Commissioner has decided to revert to the rule which has been in abeyance since 1914, that all men must retire at the age of 70 unless the Board are satisfied that they are capable of efficiently performing as full a day's work as younger ex-service men, of whom there are many in urgent need of employment. The fact that the former are entitled to old age pensions and in many cases are qualified for a gratuity has influenced the First Commissioner in this decision.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department briefed counsel to oppose the application under the Safeguarding of Industries Act by the British Xylonite Company, Limited, who ask for the deletion of artificial camphor from the Board of Trade list on the ground that this substance is the raw material used by them for the purpose of manufacturing celluloid goods, and that this duty of 33⅓ per cent, increases the cost of their products; if so, what is the amount incurred to date by his Department in this matter; and how the imposition of this duty safeguards the British manufacturers of celluloid, seeing that their raw materials are unobtainable in Great, Britain and that when the substance is imported in the shape of manufactured celluloid goods it is admitted free?

IMPORTS OF GLOVES OF WOVEN FABRICS —— Imported from all Countries. Imported from Germany. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. ( a ) Of Silk:— Dozen Pairs. £ Dozen Pairs. £ Six months ended 31st March,1992 8,677 10,310 8,570 9,880 Year ended 31st December, 1921 19,741 29,983 19,641 29,858 ( b ) Of Other Textile Materials:— Six months ended 31st March, 1922 200,868 153,905 184,818 137,659 Year ended 31st December, 1921 142,631 138,472 122,215 110,576

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of hooks and eyes and press buttons imported into this country during the six months ending 31st March, 1922; the quantity imported and what proportion came from Germany and Czecho-Slovakia; and the imports and value for the year 1913?

The following statement indicates the quantity and value of press buttons and studs registered during the six months ended 31st March, 1922, as imported into the United Kingdom.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle East (Major Barnes) on the 10th April. I may add that the hearing was concluded on the 29th April, but the decision of the Referee has not yet been given.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of fabric gloves imported from the 1st October to the 31st March: the imports and values for the years 1913 and 1921; and what proportion came from Germany?

Particulars of imports of fabric gloves during 1913 were not collected by the Customs, and I am, consequently, unable to furnish this part of the information asked for. The remaining particulars are given in the following statistical statement:—

Quantity Value Gross. £ Imported from all countries 514,182 14,896 Imported from Germany 36,854 2,174 Imported from Czecho-Slovakia 409,898 8,245

Similar particulars with regard to hooks and eyes are not available.

Neither press buttons nor hooks and eyes were separately distinguished in the statistics required to be furnished by importers to the Customs in 1913.